From what I have read, I would expect them to be about like a MIM Fender. If the pickups are indeed Ken Smith I should be ok. If the pickups are not active (but still Ken Smith) I should be alright. Disappointed, but alright.

I got this bass in today. It does have some battle scars, but I was expecting that. I opened the control plate and put a fresh battery in. With old strings this bass has a very punchy P-Bass quality, and plays very well. There is something very odd not mentioned in the ad. In the photo, there appears to be some kind of brass grounding strip (note the pry marks around the pickup.) I have never seen that done, and will more than likely change that out. Anyone ever see that done? While it ain't pretty it does what it should-play and sound good.

Is that exposed, or under the finish? If it's exposed, it's a fairly common after-market mod when the electronics aren't properly grounded to the bridge. I don't think companies ever do it like that out of the factory. I'm sure you could modify it (or have it modified by someone) so that the grounding wire is properly hidden.

I got this bass in today. It does have some battle scars, but I was expecting that. I opened the control plate and put a fresh battery in. With old strings this bass has a very punchy P-Bass quality, and plays very well. There is something very odd not mentioned in the ad. In the photo, there appears to be some kind of brass grounding strip (note the pry marks around the pickup.) I have never seen that done, and will more than likely change that out. Anyone ever see that done? While it ain't pretty it does what it should-play and sound good.

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Stinky - That's the way Fender did it on the early Jazzes. Both of my MIJITSO 62 Reissues have it as do the real accurate reissues by Fender USA. Take a look at a real 62 stack knob and you'll find that same thing.